Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee: an exceptional presentation of a rare disease with neoplastic and inflammatory features

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare condition, most commonly involving the knee joint. PVNS is locally aggressive and can invade and destroy surrounding soft tissue and bone, leading to anatomical and functional deterioration of the affected joint. Localized PVNS is an unusual presentation of the disease, generally consisting of a nodular lesion protruding into the articular cavity. Localized PVNS of the knee can mimic other joint disorders which may pose a challenge for a correct diagnosis. Given the locally aggressive behavior of PVNS, prompt identification and excision of the lesion are instrumental to avoid complications. Here, we report a rare case of localized cystic PVNS involving the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in a 32-year-old woman with persistent knee pain, in whom magnetic resonance imaging was inconclusive. The diagnosis was achieved via arthroscopy and histology. We also present a concise review of the literature on this pathological entity as well as a discussion on the differential diagnosis between localized PVNS and other intra-articular cystic lesions.

Surgical management of chronic, unreduced posterior dislocation of the shoulder

Four patients with chronic posterior dislocation of the shoulder underwent surgical treatment after an average delay of 10 months from injury. They were examined clinically and radiographically at an average follow-up of 32 months. Treatment consisted of subscapularis tendon transfer (McLaughlin procedure) into the humeral defect in one case, transfer of the lesser tuberosity (McLaughlin modified procedure) in two cases, and in the fourth case-a patient with a 19-month missed dislocation and 50% humeral head lesion-a transposition of the coracoid process and conjoined tendon was performed. X-rays and CT scan excluded avascular necrosis or severe post-traumatic arthrosis. All patients achieved complete pain relief without limitation of daily or work activities. A slight limitation of anterior elevation and external rotation was present in all patients. Our results confirm that McLaughlin's original or modified procedure is suggested in cases of chronic, unreduced posterior dislocation of the shoulder (type I according to Randelli). The transposition of the coracoid process is a valid alternative to prosthesis and to autologous or homologous bone graft implants.

Tibial intercondylar eminence fractures in adults: arthroscopic treatment

Results obtained from the surgical treatment of 15 cases of type II and III tibial intercondylar eminence fractures-according to the classification of Meyers and McKeever [12, 13]-are reported in this paper. The average age of the patients observed was 22 years (range 18-41). All patients underwent an arthroscopic procedure of reduction and fixation. We used a bioabsorbable suture in ten patients and a nonabsorbable suture in five patients. The suture was passed at the ACL insertion, then pulled out through drilled tunnels and tied onto the anterior surface of the tibial metaphysis. Two of the 15 patients treated underwent an additional arthroscopic procedure because of arthrofibrosis, 2 months after the first surgical intervention. All patients were examined clinically and radiographically with an average follow-up of 18 months. According to the IKDC scoring system, recovery of the 13 patients not undergoing additional intervention was graded as normal or near normal. In 14 patients, anterior laxity was inferior to 5 mm at the KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation. Absorbable or nonabsorbable suture fixation is effective for obtaining a secure fixation and achieves good clinical and functional mid-term results.

Results of autologous osteochondral grafts in chondral lesions of the knee

BACKGROUND

To evaluate multiple osteochondral autografts for the treatment of traumatic chondral lesions of the knee.

METHODS

Twenty-four (19 male and 5 female) patients underwent multiple osteochondral transplantation from 1995 to1999, the age ranging from 19 and 47 years old. Osteochondral lesion was localized on the femoral condyle in 21 cases, on the patella in 1 case and on the femoral groove in other 2 cases. The size of the lesion varied from 1 cm2 to 3 cm2. In 7 cases a single osteochondral graft and in 14 multiple ostechondral grafts has been harvested from non weight bearing areas of the knee. All patients except four were operated by arthroscopy. Four patients underwent arthrotomy because of the location of the lesion. The patients were examined with a 1 and 3 month follow-up and yearly thereafter (average f.u. 2 years and 4 months). For the clinical evaluation we used the IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation Form. Before surgery, and, thereafter, during the follow-up sessions, the circumference of the thigh 10 cm proximally to the superior apex of the patella was measured.

RESULTS

The results were evaluated as satisfactory in 75% of the cases (18/24). Best results were obtained in isolated chondral lesions and in cases that requested a smaller number of grafts. All the patients had an excellent recovery of the ROM, while a 1.3 cm side to side difference of muscle trophism (thigh circumference) was present during the one year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

We report good results with multiple autologous osteochondral grafts. Multiple osteochondral grafts appears to be the "Golden standard", in the treatment of chondral lesions lesions between 1.5 and 3.5 cm2.

Prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in the distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction and gastric cardia in symptomatic patients in north-east Italy: a prospective, descriptive survey. The Italian Ulcer Study Group "GISU"

BACKGROUND

Incidence of adenocarcinoma of distal oesophagus and gastric cardia, probably arising from areas of intestinal metaplasia, has been increasing rapidly.

AIMS

To define prevalence of intestinal metaplasia of distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction and gastric cardia and to evaluate potential associated factors, by means of a prospective multicentre study including University and teaching hospitals, and primary and tertiary care centres.

PATIENTS

Each of 24 institutions involved in study enrolled 10 consecutive patients undergoing first-time routine endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms.

METHODS

Patients answered symptom questionnaires and underwent gastroscopy Three biopsies were taken from distal oesophagus, oesophago-gastric junction and gastric cardia, and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Specimens were also evaluated for Helicobacter pylori infection.

RESULTS

A total of 240 patients (124 male, 116 female; median age 56 years, range 20-90) were enrolled in study. Intestinal metaplasia affected distal oesophagus in 5, oesophago-gastric junction in 19 and gastric cardia in 10 patients. Low-grade dysplasia was found at distal oesophagus and/or oesophago-gastric junction of 3/24 patients with intestinal metaplasia vs 2/216 without intestinal metaplasia (p<0.05). A significant association was found between symptoms and presence of intestinal metaplasia, regardless of location, and between Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal metaplasia at oesophago-gastric junction.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal metaplasia of distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric-junction and gastric cardia is found in a significant proportion of symptomatic patients undergoing gastroscopy and is associated with dysplasia in many cases. Although prevalence of dysplasia seems to decrease when specialized columnar epithelium is found in short segment, or even focally in oesophago-gastric junction, these small foci of intestinal metaplastic cells may represent source of most adenocarcinomas of cardia.

Tibial plateau fracture after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Complications have been described with each technique for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, both open and arthroscopically assisted. The authors describe a case of tibial plateau fracture occurring 7 months after an ACL reconstruction using the half tunnel technique. The fracture occurred at the tibial fixation site and required open reduction with internal fixation. To our knowledge, only 2 cases of proximal tibial fracture after patellar tendon autograft ACL reconstruction have been previously reported. The authors hypothesize that patellar tendon harvesting with bone blocks and transosseous tibial tunnel can produce a "stress riser" effect and somehow act synergistically to create decreased strength at the level of proximal tibial metaphysis.

[An apocrine hidrocystoma of the scrotum. A case report]

A benign neoplastic lesion of the skin originating from cystic proliferation of apocrine secretory glands is defined as an apocrine hidrocystoma or cystadenoma. The tumor usually occurs in adults as a solitary cystic lesion; it is commonly found on the periorbital region, neck, upper torso and limbs. The case presented is unusual because of the age of the patient--cystadenoma is very rare in childhood--and the localization of the lesion. From a literature review and to the best of our knowledge, a scrotal cyst has never been previously described. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice since the lesion does not tend to recur.

bcl-2 but not p53 expression is associated with resistance to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer

Programmed cell death is an important determinant of the response to chemotherapy. Among the factors controlling this process, a significant role is played by bcl-2 and p53, the expression of which, together with estrogen receptor content and tumor proliferative activity, was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry in 55 advanced breast cancer patients (median age, 60 years; range, 25-71 years). Analysis of bcl-2 expression identified two groups of patients with a significant difference in response rate. A total of 17 patients (31%) responded to chemotherapy (5 had a complete response and 12 had a partial response): 14 of 32 (44%) bcl-2-negative patients (< 40% stained cells) and only 3 of 23 (13%) bcl-2-positive patients (> or = 40% of stained cells; P = 0.019 by Fisher's exact test). The two groups were well balanced in terms of age, performance status, disease-free survival, menopausal status, and type of chemotherapy. bcl-2-negative tumors showed a tendency toward a higher p53 expression and proliferation rate, whereas an excess of bone as the dominant disease site was evident among the bcl-2-positive ones. However, the only variable to result significantly different between the two groups was estrogen receptor expression (P = 0.004). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that bcl-2 maintained its power of discriminating two groups with a different probability of responding to chemotherapy, although the greatest contribution was given by dominant disease site and type of chemotherapy. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest a possible role for bcl-2 in predicting resistance to chemotherapy.

Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee: report of two cases of fat pad involvement

The localized form of pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare pathological entity characterized by a limited involvement of the synovium. The knee is most commonly affected. In the knee joint, the disorder generally presents as a nodular, pedunculated lesion protruding into the articular cavity. The lesion is usually revealed by mechanical symptoms such as locking. We report on two cases of localized PVNS that involved the patellar fat pad, an extremely rare area of involvement. Mechanical symptoms were not present. In one case, the lesion reached considerable dimensions without interfering with joint function. Arthroscopic treatment was easily performed. No recurrence was observed at 1-year follow up.